Hey, guys! The Wetpixel Sardine Run group has been having great luck so far. We haven't had any big bait balls yet, but both days we've been able to go out (2 of 4, so far), we've had small bait balls and tons of dolphin, whale, and ganet activity. This is extreme diving at its finest.

The Wetpixel group:

We're bumping into Drew every once in awhile. He maintains that he is staying in "civilization" down the coast for us, but you don't see him logging on and posting photos. hehehe.

Giles is having many "firsts" here. "That's my first whale!" "That's my first dolphin!" "That's my first sandwich!" etc. etc. He hasn't been in cold water since he was certified, so it's funny to listen to him complain about being in a 5mm suit.

We tried to get out early this morning (7am), but the conditions were too rough for a launch and probably too bad to be worth being out there. It's an off day today, so I thought I'd post a few images from the last two days.

We've just finished our 10 days with SEAL Expeditions. Of our 8 possible days, we were actually out on the water for 5, and even though we saw (small) bait balls around, it was unusual for everything to come together in such a way that even warranted getting into the water. At least 9-10 boats out on the water rushing to get in on big action didn't make anything easier, and sometimes it seemed that the incoming zodiacs themselves would break up the action (when skippers decided to just zoom in instead of skirting around the edge).

But the entire experience was altogether enjoyable, and we've all had a great time here.

Ken, Giles and I are now at the Outspan Inn in Port St. Johns, and will be here with Drew for 6-7 more days out on the water. I hope we get a proper bait ball so we can have the opportunity to attempt to get some good images!

Great shots -- sounds pretty wild (not just IN the water, but vying for space with all the other boats ABOVE water!)!

Bruce Yateswww.UnderwaterReflections.com
Canon 5DMkII in Aquatica, 1DsMkII in Seacam, G15 in RecSea...Inon Z240's...too many lenses"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. No use being a damned fool about it." WC Fields

yes was good fun but also tough and as already posted the big show was not (yet?) there...maybe next week for Eric, Ken and Giles or next year for me (maybe). In addition I got sick in between and have not many good underwater shots... but another highlight was the return trip since Lucien did not want to take the 5 hours bus ride and hence ordered a private chopper! And from up there we got some humpbacks mother-baby and breaching action! unfortunate not as tack sharp as I wished albeit shot with the 70-200 VR (plus 2x teleconverter) at ISO 200 and between 1/750 and 1/1500 sec! Would you believe that? Obviously shooting out of a fast moving helicopter with a tele lens requires something like ISO 800 and 1/8000 sec max shutter speed...another new experience!